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Well, that's a new development. The way Max has been acting these last few weeks—uptight, bitchy—I assumed he wasn't getting any. Maybe he's getting it too much. Or he's been sleeping in the wrong bed.
"I think he's in the living room," I state, placing my hand on the small of Mya's back and steering her down the hall. Before we round the corner, I shoot daggers at Brady's back. He must feel my stare because he turns and nods just as I slip out of sight.
Max better be fucking grateful for my help. Mya is as nice as they come. I hate lying to her. And I sure as hell don't like the fact that Max has done something to piss her off.
It takes her all of three minutes to realize I'm leading her in the wrong direction. She smacks me on the shoulder as she scolds me for helping and storms off back toward the kitchen. As much as I want to see Max get his ass reamed, I'm also ready to call it a night. Tomorrow is my only day off this week, and I have a mountain of homework to catch up on before the frat meeting.
Rush week is always tough. After tomorrow, we'll find out if all our hard work recruiting was worth it. We have about twenty freshmen interested in joining, our biggest recruitment class in years, and all have been offered a place if they want it. The problem is more than half of them were also looking at other fraternities.
We'll find out which way they swing in less than twenty-four hours. If they show up at the meeting, they're pledging Kappa O. If they don't, we'll know they chose another house. The only guarantees we have so far are Craig, who will become my little brother starting next week, and Leo, who will be Max's little brother.
I'm heading for the front door when I spot Piper hugging Evie in the hall. I still want to know if she's okay, but I don't want to interrupt their moment, so I continue weaving around people until the cool night air surrounds me. Inhaling a deep breath, I hold it for a minute, relish in the purity of it, and exhale slowly.
The house was stuffy tonight, even with all the windows and doors open. The heat was insufferable. There were more people crammed in than we should have had, but Max wanted it to be the best party on campus tonight. The biggest. The one everyone wanted to be at.
There was no exclusive list tonight.
Come one, come all.
And they did.
Which should be great for us. Girls came in droves, which is what the pledges care about. They want to be where the girls are. They don't understand what a frat does yet. That we are more than a party house. It's about brotherhood. We host fundraisers to help those less fortunate.
They won't get it for a while either. It'll take a year, maybe two, before they start to see the benefits of being a part of something greater than themselves. It took me almost as long. Though, if it weren't for Max, it would have taken much longer than it did. Because I was here for the girls at first too.
Three years ago I came to Lake State with two goals. Play baseball and have fun. Fun meaning girls. It's the only reason I moved out of my parents’ house. I could have lived with them, but I wouldn't have had the freedom I had. The late nights. Sneaking girls in and out of the dorms after curfew. Partying until the sun came up.
Then I met Piper, and it felt like my eyes were open for the first time. Everything I wanted in life was standing in front of me. I didn't even know I had dreams beyond playing ball until I met her. I let go of my playboy ways. Figured out who I was, who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do with my life. Or what I thought I wanted to do.
Baseball had always been my dream, cooking more of a hobby. One I enjoy. But these last few weeks, working with her, watching her eyes light up, it's reminded me what I love most about cooking. The pure joy it brings to someone else's life when they take their first bite. The creativity I put into each dish.
Baseball is work. It's hard on me physically and mentally.
Cooking is the opposite. It's more like an outlet. A passion.
I love playing baseball, but I love cooking more.
Which is why I've decided to apply to culinary school. It's a one-year program. The culinary institute is only thirty minutes away. I'll have to give up my position at the restaurant when classes start in June, but I'm hoping my parents will understand. Especially since I plan to come back here and take over after I graduate.
It's a conversation that's going to be hard to have with them. Hard for them to hear. A big ask on my part. I realize they won't just have to replace me on the team, but I'm also asking them to push back their retirement a year. Which is why I'm not planning on talking to them unless I'm accepted into the program.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Her voice is the sweetest sound. I've been waiting to hear it all night. Wishing I was standing close enough. The few times I was, she didn't add to the conversation.
"How many pennies do you have on you?"
Piper's standing to my right, leaning against a pillar. There's the hint of a smile on her face, but it's forced.
"Just one."
"Well, you only get one thought then."
"Hmmm." She pretends to think over my offer, tapping her finger against her lips twice before digging through the purse strapped across her chest. Seconds later, she's holding up three pennies and a nickel. "Looks like I have eight cents. What can I get for that?"
I know she's joking around. I can hear it in her tone. Still, the first thing that comes to mind is not an answer I can share with her. Because I would give her anything she asked for, tell her whatever she wanted to hear, and I wouldn't take her money from her. All I'd ask for in exchange is a kiss.
Just one.
It wouldn't even have to last that long.
